Rigside mum calls on pregnant women to get flu vaccine

Lynsey Frew, 29, from Rigside, her fianc Willie, 43, daughter Luci, seven, and son Greggor, five, all fell ill on Boxing Day with flu-like symptoms.

However, Lynsey's condition deteriorated the following week and, on Hogmanay, she was rushed by ambulance to Wishaw General.

By New Year's Day, she could no longer breathe for herself and the decision was taken to perform an emergency caesarean operation to save her unborn daughter.

The following day Sarah Frew Lane was born seven weeks early and taken to the neonatal unit to receive highly specialised care.

Mum Lynsey, meanwhile, began her battle for survival within the intensive care unit (ICU).

Lynsey, a student nurse at the University of the West of Scotland, revealed she was certain she would die having never met her third child and now wants to make sure no-one goes through what she did.

She said: "Women who are pregnant need to get the flu vaccination as soon as possible. There should be no excuse – please don't go through what I did."

For more on Lynsey's story, pick up a copy of this week's Carluke and Lanark Gazette which is in the shops now.